Okemos, Lansing, and East Lansing, MI
Gum disease is common among adults in America. Approximately half of adults have gum disease, which is known to be the number one cause of tooth loss. It occurs when oral bacteria accumulate from a lack of oral hygiene and causes gum infection that presents as inflammation in the gums and gums that bleed easily. Without treatment, gum disease advances and erodes the jawbone that is designed to stabilize your teeth. Could you have gum disease? Today on the blog, learn about the different stages of gum disease and what Dr. Tenaglia can do to help preserve your oral health.
There are three stages of gum disease. The first stage is known as gingivitis, which is reversible. However, as gum disease advances, it could end up causing catastrophic damage to your oral health.
Gingivitis
The most common stage of gum disease is gingivitis. It starts from not taking good care of your teeth and gums. Signs that you may have gingivitis include red and inflamed gums that bleed easily. You may notice pink in the sink when you brush, or your gums may bleed a little when you eat hard, crunchy foods like apples or carrots. This isn’t coincidental. You likely have gingivitis.
The American Dental Association recommends brushing your teeth twice a day and flossing daily. While most adults commit to daily brushing, they lack the effort to floss each day. But skipping flossing is like only cleaning two-thirds of your teeth. Would you cook your dinner only two-thirds of the way done or take your life-saving medication two-thirds of the time? Then apply this same logic to caring for your teeth and gums. You won’t regret taking that extra couple of minutes each night to floss. Another step to take to reverse gingivitis is to commit to getting your teeth cleaned every six months. The purpose of these cleanings is to remove stuck-on tartar that a toothbrush cannot remove.
Periodontitis
If gingivitis progresses, it becomes periodontitis. At this point, permanent damage is done to your oral health, and it is not reversible. However, periodontitis is manageable with a commitment to at-home oral hygiene and following through with your Okemos dentist’s recommendations for gum disease treatment. Periodontitis or gum disease means that the gum tissue surrounding your teeth begins to shrink away, creating periodontal pockets where harmful oral bacteria reside. Perio pockets cannot be cleaned with a toothbrush. Therefore, professional dental treatments are needed to clean perio pockets and prevent gum disease from worsening. If left untreated, the infection then spreads to the jawbone, causing it to erode, teeth to loosen, and eventually, tooth loss may occur.
Advanced Periodontitis
By the time advanced periodontitis occurs, teeth are likely to be loose or need to be extracted. Teeth are likely irreparable, and the patient experiences chronic bad breath and severe jawbone depletion. These are all grave concerns for one’s oral health because it could make wearing dentures more difficult without substantial jawbone for support. Plus, you may not be a viable candidate for dental implants.
How is gum disease treated?
Gingivitis can be treated by committing to good at-home oral hygiene and six-month dental cleanings. If your gum disease has progressed, it will require more extensive treatments such as dental deep cleanings more frequently and laser gum therapy to remove diseased gum tissue. If you believe that you have gum disease or want to find out ways to prevent gum disease in Okemos, contact Tenaglia Smiles to learn more by calling (517) 347-6733.